NCNO vs ICE vs FISV vs FIS vs JKHY

For growth investors, nCino, Inc.

(NCNO) is the stronger pick with 13. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 6% for Fiserv, Inc. (FISV). Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate nCino, Inc. (NCNO) a "Buy" — based on 23 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Fiserv, Inc.

(FISV) is the cheapest at 9. 0x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 63. 0x. On forward P/E, Fiserv, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fiserv, Inc. wins at 0. 20x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 19x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) delivered a total return of +43. 4%, compared to -68. 6% for nCino, Inc. (NCNO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ICE returned +225. 3% versus NCNO's -80. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

(JKHY) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 28β versus nCino, Inc. 's 1. 18β — meaning NCNO is approximately 317% more volatile than JKHY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, nCino, Inc. (NCNO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 113% for Fiserv, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), nCino, Inc.

(NCNO) is pulling ahead at 13. 5% versus 3. 6% for Fiserv, Inc. (FISV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. grew EPS 20. 7% year-over-year, compared to -47. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NCNO leads at 25. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 1% net margin versus -7. 0% for nCino, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICE leads at 38. 7% versus -3. 4% for NCNO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ICE leads at 61. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 20x versus Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 's 2. 19x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) trades at 7. 0x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. — 14. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NCNO: 81. 8% to $32. 33.

In this comparison, FIS (3.

5% yield), JKHY (1. 5% yield), ICE (1. 2% yield) pay a dividend. NCNO, FISV do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

(ICE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 33), 1. 2% yield, +225. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICE: +225. 3%, NCNO: -80. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (NCNO (Technology) and ICE (Financial Services) and FISV (Technology) and FIS (Technology) and JKHY (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NCNO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FISV is a mid-cap deep-value stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; JKHY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. ICE, FIS, JKHY pay a dividend while NCNO, FISV do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.